Knitting machine



Sept. 18, 11945. H. H. -lQLMs ETA.

KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 3, 1944 I n uentors v.M25/M Miam@ Sept. 1,8, 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL 1- 2,385,081

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventorsl Sept.18,v 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL 2,385,081

f KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorney sept.1s, 1945.

H. H. HOLMES E l AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Y In ventorgl A ltorney Sept. 18, 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL.

KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet' Filed Jan. 3, 1944 Patented Sept. 18,1945 KNITTING MACHINE Henry Harold Holmes and Albert Henry Wlddowe son,Leicester, England, asslgnors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester,England, a British v company Application January 3, 1944, Serial No.516,788 In Great Britain January 4, 1943 14 Claims.

For the' purpose of producing horizontal striping eilects and splicedareas in knitted fabric, knitting machines are generally `furnished withmechanism comprising a plurality of independently movable yarn guideswhich are automatically operable suchwise as to substitute one yarn foranother, and .to supply an additional yam in conjunction with a main orground yarn.

The expression knitted fabric is to be regarded generically as includingnot only fabric produced in continuous lengths such as -for manufacturesubsequently into garments, but also hosiery-especially half hose,three-quarter hose, sports hose and socks-'and other knitted articles orgarments, or garment lengths.

The present invention has for its object certain improvements inmechanism of the character concemed whereby there 'is produced what isconsidered to be novel, viz. knitted fabric comprising a. section Withhorizontal striping eilects limited thereto and a fully splicedadjoining area, knitted together without bulky joins.

The invention is especially applicable vto cir- 'cular knitting machinesfurnished with independent needles, advantageously to machines of thecharacteristic type including double axially opposed, e. g. superimposedneedle cylinders, and, in this respect, more particularly to machinesfurnished with double-ended needles operated by means of sliders for thepurpose of producing any of the primary stitch eiects, plain, rib orpurl, separately or in any desired combination, as understood by thoseacquainted with the art.

The mechanism included Within the present invention comprises, incombination, a plurality of movable yarn guides. one or more .for astriping yarn, or yarns, respectively, others for a main or ground yarn,and a splicing yarn respectively, and means for automatically operatingthe said guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn issupplied to a section of the needles while the main or ground yarn andthe splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied tothe remainder of the needles during a course or a succession of coursesof knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main or ground yarnonly is supplied to the said section of the needles and both yarns aresupplied to the said remainder -knitting machines adapted to producehosiery with ribbed insteps are concerned, it is essential in order toavoid float threads which would foul the rib needles, to provide yarncutting and trapping means in association with the splicing mechanismoperable at each course of knitting so as to cut and hold the splicingyarn upon withdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readilycarried into practical effect, a particular illustrative embodimentthereof applicable, by way of example, to a seamless hosiery machine ofthe superimposed rotary needle cylinder type, and an example of fabricand of a half hose or sock capablev of being produced on such a machinewill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan View of so much of the machine as is necessary todepict the striping and splicing mechanisms and the controlling meanstherefor,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same, showing moreparticularly the yarn guides and operating mechanism as seen in thedirection of the arrowA in Figure 1,

Figure 2A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of that portion ofFigure l enclosed in the dot and dash line rectangle R.,

Figure 3 is a detail plan view, drawn to a larger scale, showing moreclearly the levers to which the two guides of the splicing mechanism areconnected,

Figure 4 is a detail front view of the same, con.. stituting anenlargement of a' portion of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a further detail .view showing the yarn guides in theirnon-feeding positions,

Figure 6 is a side view showing cam means and intermediate connectionsfor controlling the striping and splicing mechanisms,

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a trapping and y severing device and ayarn placing and cutting device provided in association with thestriping and splicing mechanisms,

Figures 8 and 9 are two views of the said trapping and severing devicewith its yarn gatherer in the open and closed positions respectively,the said device being viewed inthe direction of the arrow AB in Figurel,

Figure 10 is aside viewV of the yarn placing and cutting device per se,as seen in the direction of the arrow C in Figure l, the elements of thedevice being shown inoperative,

Figure 11 is a somewhat similar View showing the said elements in thecourse of being advanced to cut and hold a yarn.

Referring to Figures l and 2, the reference numeral I designates.- thebottom or bed plate of the machine, while the bottom cam box isindicated at 2. In this example the splicing mechanism is combined withstriping mechanism and the combination comprises ve striping yarn guides3, a splicing yarn guide E and a guide F for a main or ground yarn. Thefull complement of guides is shown in Figure 5. There may, of course, bemore or less than five striping yarn guides. For the sake of clarity inFigure 2 only two of the striping yarn guides are fully shown, i. e. theuppermost and the lowermost, the feeding ends or throats of theremaining guides being merely indicated by small circles 31. Each of theyarn guides 3 consists of a comparatively thin rod-like or similarmember which is reduced in thickness or relieved as at 3a (Figure 5) torender the guide yieldable at its feeding -end or throat 3b.' Theseveral guides are pivotally mounted to swing one above another on a xedsupport 4. The yarn guides are inserted in the ends of carrier levers 5and secured therein by means of screws These levers are pivoted at lupon brackets 8 the formation and disposition of which are such as toenable all of the guides to swing on axes obliquely disposed in twodirections. of Figure 2. The brackets 3 are secured to the support 4 andare so disposed that, as shown in Figure 2, the feeding ends or throats3b of the yarn guides all converge towards a common feeding locationsomewhat in advance of the knitting location, and adjacent to thecustomary latch guard which is indicated at 9. The guides are normallyin their respective inoperative, i. e. nonfeeding, positions, shown inFigure 2. The guide shown in Figure 1 is, however, in the feedingposition P. When the guides are moved to assume the feeding position,their feeding ends or throats will follow the paths represented by thestraight lines I in Figure 2. The arrangement is such that when aninoperative guide is moved to the feeding position its feeding end vorthroat 3b makes Contact with the feeding end or throat of the thenoperative guide which later thereupon yields to make way for the ingoingguide.

The striping yarn guides 3 are normally held in their non-feedingpositions by springs. For this purpose each carrier lever 5 hasconnected to it a tension spring i0 which is suitably anchored to anupright post I I secured in the fixed plate I2. Each carrier lever 5,moreover, has connected to it a link i3 which is slidable through onearm I4a of a pivoted yarn guide operating lever I4. A collar I5, whichis secured upon the link lI3 by set screws I6, is arranged to impingeupon the arm Ma in the manner depicted in Figure 1. The tail end P427 ofeach guide operating lever I4 is formed for engagement at appropriatetimes with a shouldered portion Ila of a springinuenced catch memberI'l. As will be seen in Figure 2, these catch members and thecorresponding levers I4 are mounted horizontally one above another. Inthis connection the said catch members I'I are pivotally mounted toswing upon a common pivot pin I8, while the levers i4 are similarlymounted upon aV pin I9, the two pins being rigidly connected together attheir upper ends by means of a bridge piece 20. Each catch This will beclear from a considerationmember IT is formed with a tail I'Ib to whichis connected one end of a small tension spring 2l the opposite end ofwhich is anchored to a vertically disposed pin 22 carried in lugs 23aformed on an 'upstanding plate 23. This spring serves normally to holdthe catch member in its catch position, shown more clearly in Figure 1,this position being determined by reason of contact of the tail Ilb withthe opposing edge of the plate 23. Normally, the yarn guide operatinglevers I4 are clear of the respective catch members Il-with their tailends I4b located to the left of the position shown in Figure 1. Thus,whenever any one of the levers I4 is acted upon suchwise as to move itstail end i417 to the right, said tail end will rst press upon theprotuberant portion ila of the relevant catch member.y Il and press thelatter outwardly against its spring 2l, whereupon the parts willimmediately snap into engagement; in this way the yarn guide operatinglever will be caught and maintained in the position indicated in Figurel. During movement of a lever I4 in the sense just described the arm I4athereof will, of course, swing to the left and, in so doing, will pressupon the corresponding collar I5, thereby causing the relevant stripingyarn guide 3 to move into the feeding position against the action of itsspring Ill. It will be noted that the free end of each catch member I1carries an abutment screw 24 which can be secured, after adjustment, bya set screw 25. For action upon all of the screws 24 lsimultaneouslythere is provided an upright pin 2B carried by a lever 2l which isformed on or secured to a hollow shaft 28. This shaft is mounted insuitable bearings yin the main bracket of the attachment, and also hasrigidly secured thereto another lever 29 adapted for co-operation with acam 3B, see Figure 2, provided on a control drum 3I of reel form. Aswill be readily appreciated, whenever the toe of the lever 29 is actedupon by the cam 30, the

lever 2l will be turned in a clockwise direction y to trip all of thecatch members Il simultaneously. Consequently any onefof the guideoperating levers I4 which happens at that time to be held in theposition shown in Figure 1 will be released to permit the correspondingyarn guide to swing to its non-feeding position under the influence ofits spring I0. As a result of this movement of theguide, thecorresponding collar I5 will act upon the lever I4, thereby causing thelatter to assume its normal inoperative position-with its tail end I4bdisposed to the left as aforesaid.

The guide operating levers I4 are selectively operated. For this purposethere is provided a selector member 32 which is movable up and down intodifferent horizontal planes for action selectively upon the levers I4,adjacent to 4their ating lever 39. A tension spring 40'arranged as shownin Figure 1 serves to maintain the rod in contact with the saidoperating lever. The latter is suitably bossed at 39a and mounted forpivotal movement upon a fixed spindle 4I. By swinging the lever 39 tovarious angular extents the push rod 36 can be raised or loweredto .movethe selector member 32 into the -appropriate horizontal plane forsubsequent action upon the desired striping yarn guide operating leverI4. A lever 42 is secured upon the lower end o! the hollow shaft 31 forcooperation with the cam 35. A further lever 43 (see Figure 2) issecured upon the upper end of the shaft 31 and arranged for action uponthe selector member 32. Thus, whenever the cam 35 functions to move thelever 42 outwards, such movement is transmitted, through the medium ofthe shaft 31, to the lever 43 which latter thereupon eilects a turningmotion of the selector member 32. In this way the said member is causedto act upon 'the desired operating lever I4 so that the correspondingyarn guide 3 is drawn to the feeding position P. For operating the lever39 and thereby varying the height of the push rod 36 in accordance with-patterning requirements, there is provided a selector bar 44 which'hasA a. pin-and-slot l connection 45, 46 with the said lever and isarranged for movement longitudinally to varying extents at the dictatesof studs on the chain 34. The end of the bar 44 remote from the selectoroperating lever 39 is pivotally connected t0 a lever 41 which is in turnpivoted upon a-flxed bracket 48. The lever 41' is formed with an arm 41aarranged in the path `of a chain stud lever 49 which' is suitablyassociated with and actuated by linkage comprising a parallel movementlink 50 and a link 5| formed with a toe 5|a for cooperation with thestuds on the chain 34. 'I'he arrangement is therefore, such that infollowing studs of respectively diierent heights the linkage actuatesthe chain stud lever 49 and, through the medium of the lever 41, shiftsthe bar 44 to the extent required in the desired direction,

The control-drum 3| is normally quiescent, but is brought into operationwhenever a yarn change is to be effected, through the stud-operatedselector bar 44. The said drum is secured upon an axle 52 to which isalso rigidly attached a rack wheel 53 having formed therein a singlenotch 53a to provide a shouldered portion for cooperation with a pawl54. This pawl is carried by one arm 55a of a lever 55 which is adaptedto be continuously reciprocated by a cam-actuated bell crank 56. Thebell crank is formed with a boss 56a which is slidable up and down uponan axle 51 depending from the bottom or bed plate I. At its forward endthe bell crank is slidably engaged with a pin 56 projecting downwardsfrom the arm 55h of the pawl lever 55, and at its opposite end isfurnished with a roller 59 adapted to be acted upon by cams bolted tothe hub 66 of th'e customary cylinder-driving gear. There are three ofthese cams, viz. a single cam for effecting a reciprocation of the pawllever once per revolution, and a, pair of diametrlcally opposed cams 6|lfor reciprocating the said lever twice per revolution of the needlecylinders. The single cam is located in a horizontal plane different tothat in which the diametrically opposed cams 6| are arranged and thebell crank 56 is movable heightwise to bring the roller 59 into eitherof these planes, according to requirements. For this purpose the boss56a is crcumferentially` recessed at 56h for reception of theappropriate end of a lever 63 (see Figure 2) operated from the maincontrol drum CD (Figure 6), the construction and arrangement being suchthat aecording to the height of the roller 59, which height will bedetermined by cams on the main drum, the pawl 54 has imparted to iteither one or two working strokes per revolution of the whenever themachine is in operation, but is normally rendered ineffective by meansof a blut! 64 which, when operative as shown in Figure l,

serves to prevent engagement of the pawl 64 i with the rack wheel y53.This blut! is formed on a bell crank 66 which is connected by means of alink 66 with a bluff-operating lever 61 mounted pivotally upon th'efixed spindle 4I` aforesaid. The lever 61 has a pin and slot connected66, 66 with the bar 44, so that whenever the latter is shifted toinitiate selection of a yarn guide the bluff will be actuated and swungaway from the notch 53a to permit co-operation ofthe pawl with the rackwheel and vice versa. 'I'hus it is only when a yarn ch'ange is to beeiected that the control drum 3| will be racked. For producing instepstriping or similar half round striping eiects, the drum 3| will beracked twice per revolution of the machine from the diametricallyopposed cams 6|. The drum has a spring return action so that, duringoperation, .it is automatically restored to its original position afteror ground yarn is fed by the guide F. These guides *are inserted incarrier levers 51 and are connected with their operating levers G and Hby links I3 in a similar way to that in which the striping yarn guidesare connected with the levers I4 aforesaid.

:The pin I is either formed integrally with or is screwed into theoperating lever H. In association with the levers G and H are springcontrolled detents or catches |1l which are similar to the catch membersI1 and adapted to engage tail formations on the levers suchwise as tohold the same with the corresponding guides in the yarn feeding positionP. The lever G connected with the splicing yarn guide E is moved intothe operatiVe-position by lmeans of a part `of or associated with theaforesaid control drum 3| when the4 latter is rendered operative, and,by reason of y the coupling I, J, automatically moves the guide F forthe main or ground yarn into the feeding position. Means alreadydescribed in connection with the members I1 are provided for trippingthe detents or catches I11 corresponding with the' two guides E and F soas to release the latter to withdraw their yarns from the needles, butwhen only the lever G of the splicing guide E is released it moves inrelation to the other lever H, this being permitted by the slot J.Consequently only the guide E is released, as represented by brokenlines in Figure 3, lea-vingrthe guide F in position to continue feedingits yarn to the needles.

For effecting movement of the selector member 32 to such a height as tooperate the lever G and thereby draw the splicing yarn guide E into itsfeeding position at appropriate times, the bar- 44 is moved to therequired extent by suitable actuation of the lever 49-not from the chain34 as previously described-but from a cam-operated positioning lever L.This lever. is shown in Figures 1 and 6 andyas will be seen, isfurnished with a roller M for co-operation at required times f with acam N secured upon a layshaft 16 running at'half cylinder speed.Normally the lever L is so positioned, laterally, as to hold the rollerM out of engagement with the cam N but is adapted to be moved atrequired times to establish cooperation between the said roller and camby means influenced from the main control drum CD. In this connectionthe lever L is bossed at L1 and mounted for lateral sliding movementupon an axle O, being controlled by a tension'spring P1. A pivoted bellcrank' Q is connected to the tail end of the lever L by a link R havingassociated therewith a compression spring S arranged in the manner shownin Figure 1. This bell crank is in turn connected by a link T to a camlever U adapted to be acted upon at required t'mes by a cam V on thecontrol drum CD (see Figure 6). The forward, i.e. operative, end of thepositioning lever L is arranged beneath a pin W which projects laterallyfrom the link i. The arrangement is vtherefore such that the lever L isnormally held with the roller M out of contact with the cam N by actionof the spring P1. When thecam lever U is acted upon by the drum cam V,the bell crank Q is turned in an anti-clockwise direcraises the lever Lto a point beyond the screw abutment 'Il to ensure contact between thelever 12 and the lug 18. The lever L is held in this potion therebymoving the lever L through the spring S, and against the action of thespring P1 which is weaker than the spring S, to establish co-operationbetween the roller M and the cam N. If the movement of the lever isinitially obstructed by the cam the spring S can yield so that when theobstruction is removed the lever snaps into position. Then, each timealobe N1 on this cam rides under the roller, the pin W is raised toeffect movement of the selector bar 44 through the levers i9 and el.

When racking on cams 8l for half round striping the selector bar M isreleased but again caused to take up a position to determine selectionof the splicing yarn guide E at each revolution of the machine. In thisconnection the bar it is furnished with a lug 10 for cooperation atappropriate times with a screw abutment ll carried at the free end of apivoted lever l2. This lever is influenced by a spring 'i3 (see Figure6) tending normally to hold the llever with the abutment- Il in theraised position indicated in full lnes in Figure 2; at this height thesaid abutment is disposed in the path of the lug 'I8 to check the bar 44and temporarily maintain the latter in the position at which itdetermines selection of the half round splicing yarn guide. The lever'l2 is. however, furnished with a roller l for contact with a 2-lobe caml5 secured upon the layshaft 1S. Consequently at suitable regularintervals durng half round striping the bar d@ will be re-n leased byreason of the leverv i2 being positively cam actuated against the springaction to lower the screwabutment li clearof the lug l!! (seedot-and-dash line position in Figure 2).

`Whenever a half round spliced section is to be made the guide F for themain or ground yarn is controlled from the main drum of the machine andnot from the'chain 34 as Aare the remainder of the yarn guides. Toenable this to be done the bar 64 is furnished with a stop 80 whichcarries an adjustable abutment screw 8l adapted to be acted upon atappropriate times by a pivoted bell crank lever 82 operated from themain drum. Thus, whenever the ground yarn guide is to be selected foroperation, the'bell crank lever 82 is turned in a clockwise direction,thereby shifting the bar 44 to the right, the extent of these movesitionuntil the half round splicing yarn has been introduced, whereupon thesaid lever is tripped by the cam 15 to permit selection of striping yarnfrom the chain, or to 'cut out' the splicing yarn if the main or groundyarn is knitted in the instep by return oi the selector bar 44 intocontact with the lever 82. Y

Reverting to the description of the push rod 36, the height of this andhence also of the selector member 32 at each selection is checked bymeans of a spring loaded indexing linger 03 which is bossed at 83a, andpivotally mounted to turn freely about the axle 52. The free, i. e.operative, end of the finger 83 is suitably formed for engagement incircumferential notches such as that indicated at V38a in Figure 4. -Alever 8f3 furnished with an upstanding pin85 is provided for actuatingthe indexing nger 83, this lever being made fast on the striping controldrum spindle. Thev construction is accordingly. such that each time thecontrol'drum 3l is restored to its normal position after being racked bythe pawl t', the pin 85 acts upon the indexing linger 33 to swing itaway clear of the push rod 36. Conversely, at each rack of the drum 3l,the nger 33 is permitted to engage the appropriate one of the grooves36ato check the height of the selector member 32;. 4

Thus, as will be understood, when a striping yarn is to be substitutedfor the main or ground yarn for a partial course or a succession ofpartial courses, the appropriate striping guide is rendered operativeand the detent or catch H1 corresponding with the lever H of the guide Ffor the main or), ground yarn is tripped thereby releasing the saidguide to withdraw its yarn from 40 the needles N (Figure l). Thus, byappropriate rather more than half a course of knitting thereby supplyingthe required striping yarn to all of the instep needles and a few of theadjoining needles -`at each end of the heel and toe group to provide fordesired overlap and is then withdrawn and ments being just suflicient toraise the selector" member 32`to a height corresponding with the lever Hfor operating the said guide. It is important to note that a lobe N1 onthe cam N the other guides are operated so that for the remainder ofsaid course or courses both occupy the feeding position and supply theiryarns to the heel and toe needles and\ are then withdrawn, while in theintervening courses of knitting the splicing yarn guide is released towithdrawn its yarn from the instep needles, leaving the guide for themain or ground yarn to feed these needles, and is then restored to thefeeding position so that both yarns are fed to the heel and toe needles,thereby producing a half hose or sock 4 with an instep and a foot bottomcomposed of the eilects already alluded to herein.

As already alluded to herein, yarn cutting and trapping means areprovided and operated in timed relation with the operation of thestriping and splicing guides suchwise as to be operated at each courseof knitting in order to cut and hold the said yarns at the end of therespective partial courses.

The mechanism may and preferably does include a device adapted, whenevera yarn change is euected, to engage and introduce to the needles theportion of the ingoing yarn extending between the feeding end of itsguide and the cutting and trapping means and thereupon to cut the saidyarn with the object of producing neat joins in the knitted ,fabric.'I'hisfdevice is preferably so tion of the yarn projecting from thetrapper for eventual removal as waste. This, of course, 1s incontra-distinction to yarn feeding and changing mechanisms of the formmost commonly employed heretofore, wherein whenever a yarn guide wasmoved into its feeding position the ingoing yarn was caught by certainneedles and the whole of the appreciable length of yarn then extendingbetween the said needles and the trapper was pulled out from the latterand turned back or doubled, thereby contributing to the formation of abulky join. A

In the example illustrated, the yarn placing and cutting means areembodied in a device now to be described with reference, moreparticularly,

'to Figures 7-11. This device comprises a pair of thin, nat cutterblades 88 and 01 and an associated blade-like placer and trapper element88 which are slidably mounted at one. side of arrupstanding part a on abracket 8d attached to the bottom cam box 2. The three elements of theplacing and cutting device are arranged side by side with the cutterblades 86 and 01 on the outside and the placer and trapper element 00disposed immediately adjacent to the said upstanding part. Each of thetwo cutter blades and also the placer and trapper element has formedtherein a slot through which extends a pin 00 pro-l jecting laterallyfrom the upstanding part 89a; the slots will be hereinafter described.The outer end of this pin is screw-threaded for engagement with a nut 0|and an associated lock-nut 02. As shown in Figure l, a light compressionspring 08 is interposed between the nuts and a washer 0d located on thepin adjacent to the outer cutter blade 01; in. this way the co-operat-1ing elements are spring-pressed together.` The device extends in asubstantially radial direction with respect to the needle circle. At itsoperative end each of the cutter blades 00 and 01 is of a generallypointed character, being outward-v ly bevelled and inwardly curved onits underside. The operative end of the placer and trapper element 88 isof a somewhat similar shape with the exception that it has therein asmall recess 80a so formed as to provide at the inner extremity of theelement a yarn engaging formation.

with each other in such a manner as to engage, trap and cut an ingoingyarn such as that indicated iy in Figure 7. These independent movementsand the timing of the elements are achieved by reason of the lpin 90working in the aforesaid slots. As shown in Figure '7, the slot |00 inthe outer cutter blade 81 is of V form so that as the said blade isprojected towards the needles n it first rises sharply and then quicklymoves downwards again to co-operate with the inner cutter blade 86 afterthe manner of a pair of scissors. The slot |0| in the inner cutter blade86, on the other hand, comprises practically straight end portions andan intermediate slightly upwardly curved portion, so that duringprojection of the said blade towards the needles it first moves forwardin a straight low path to miss the yarn z'y then rises slightly beforeproceeding to the full extent of its movement. The placer and trapperlelement 88, although adapted to rise together with the outer cutterblade 81, moves downwardly a little earlier than the latter to trap theengaged ingoing yam iy before it is cut. This movement isl achieved byforming in the placer and trapper element a V-shaped slbt |02 (seeFigures 10 and 1l) which is somewhat shallower than the sloil |00 formedin the outer cutter blade 81.

'I'he cutter? blades` and associated placer and trapper element areintended to be moved towards and away from the needles n simultaneously,for which purpose they are pivotally mounted at their ou'ter or tailends upon a common actuating lever 05. For instance, all three elementsmay,l as shown, be of the same lengthor `approximately so-and each havein its tail end a small hole through which extends a pin 08 projectinglaterally from the actuating lever in the manner depicted more clearlyin Figure l.. The said actuating lever 85'is operated through ythemedium of a link 91l and a lever 98 from a lthey are also movedindependentlyto coeoperate The main trapping and severing device in thisexample .comprises a pivoted cutting member |03, a co-operating ,fixedcutter plate |04, spring inuenced yarn gripping plungers |05 (Figure 10)and a pivoted placer element |06 adapted to engage an outgoing yarn forthe purpose of placing it into the trapper. The -plungers |05 are of thesaw tooth typeto permit movement of yarn in one direction only. As willbe seen from a consideration ofv Figure 1, the pivoted cutting member|03 and the yarn placing element extend more or less tangentially' tothe needle circle NC substantially at right angles to the herebeforedescribed yarn placing and cutting device, and are both rigidly securedto a common pivot pin |01 mounted to turn in a block |08 on the bracket00. An upstanding plate |09 secured to the block |08 functions as aguide to facilitate entry of an outgoing yarn into the 'main trapper. Inassociation with -the main trapping and severing device there isprovided a yarn clearer consisting of an element |0 which is mounted onthe inner -end of the pivot pin I 01 and adapted to function inconjunction with the device to clear waste portions of yarn therefrom.In this connection the clearer is formed with an angularly disposedextension |0a which is forked for engagement with a pin i inserted inthe end of the pivot |01. The waste yarn may be received in a receptacleof channel form (not shown) attached to the underside of the bracket 89.'I'he tail ends of the cutting member |03 and the yarn placing element|06 are slotted for engagement with a cranked portion |I2a of a. rod 2mounted to turn in the bracket 89. Appropriate turning movements areimparted to this rod through the medium of a lever ||3 which is pivotedat ||4 and adapted to be actuated by a cam ||5 provided on the controldrum 3|. A link ||6 connects the lever ||3 witha forked arm ||1 which isadjustably secured upon the rod I 2. As shown in Figure l, the lever |3is furnished with a piv- ,oted detent I8 which is formed with a nose |8alever H3. The arrangement isltherefore such that actuation of the leverH3 is permitted upon movement of the control drum 3i .in one direc--vice has just cut the ingoing yarn y at a point h near tothe firstneedle n1 to receive it, and is holding the portion iyl of the said yarnfor introduction to the needles. The free portion i112 of the yarnprojecting from the main trapper is left for removal as waste in themanner previously described. Figure l0 shows all three elements 86, 87and 88 of the device fully withdrawn from action, whereas in Figure l1the elements 8S and @d are shown as they appear in the course of .beingadvanced to cut and hold an ingoing yarn.

In Figure 2 the plain needle cylinder and the superimposed rib needlecylinder are indicated at i2! and |22, respectively. The referencenumeral i235 indicates the top cam box of the machine. As will be seenin Figure 2A, the machine illustrated is of the type includingdouble-ended needles i2@ for operation in the cylinders and sliders suchas |25 and mi in said cylinders for operating the needles andtransferring the same from one cylinder to the other, according torequirements.

What We claim then is:

l. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, at leastone movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarn guidesfor a main yarn and a splicing yam respectively, and means forautomatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwisethat a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles While themain yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarnand supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one courseof knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only issupplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn andthe splicing yarn are supplied to the Said remainder of the needles.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, at leastone movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarn guidesfor a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, said' last mentionedguides being arranged for movement conjointly and also one in relationto the other for the purpose of introducing the relative yarns to andwithdrawing same from the needles in the required manner in appropriatetimed relation with the operation of the striping yarn guide, and meansfor automatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeablysuchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needleswhile the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for thestriping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during atleast one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals themain yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and boththe main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainderof the needles.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, stripingmechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn,splicing mechanism including other movable yarn aasaosi guides for amain yarn and asplicing yarn respectively, and means for automaticallyoperating the yarn guides and for controlling same from a common sourcesuchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section oi the needleswhile the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for thestriping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during atleast one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals themain yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and boththe main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainderof the needles.

4. In aknitting machine,l in combination, a series of needles, stripingmechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn,splicing mechanism including other movable yarn guides for a -main yarnand a splicing yarn respectively, levers associated with the guides inthe splicing mechanism, said levers being coupled together to permit oftheir movement conjointly to supply the relative'yarns to the needlesand to enable the splicing yarn guide to be withdrawn withoutinterference with the main yarn guide whenever the main yarn only is tobe supplied to the needles, and means for automatically operating theyarn guides interchangeably suchwlse that a striping yarn is supplied toa section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn aresubstituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of theneedles during at least one course or knitting, periodically, and in theintervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of theneedles and both the 'main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied tothe said remainder of the needles.

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, stripingmechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn,splicing mechanism including other movable yarn guides for a main yarnand a splicing yarn respectively. means for automatically operating thesaid yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn issupplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and thesplicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to theremainder of the needles during at least one course oi knitting,periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to thesaid section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarnare supplied to the said remainder of the needles, and, in associationwith the splicing mechanism, yarn cutting and trapping means operable ateach course-of knitting so as to cut and hold the splicing yarn uponwithdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course.

6. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, splicingmechanism including two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and ssplicing yarn'respectively, striping. mechanism in cluding a pluralityof interchangeable guides for multi-colour striping, said striping yarnguides being such that when a change is made an ingoing guide takes upsubstantially the feeding position previously occupied by the guide tobe withdrawn so that as the yarns are interchanged each iseventually fedfrom the same feeding location as its predecessor, and-means forautomatically operating the yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that astriping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the mainyarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn andsupplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course ofknitting, periodically,

colour striping, said striping yarn guides being such tha't when achange is made an ingoing guide takes up substantially the feedingposition previously occupied by the guide to be withdrawnlso that. asthe yarns are lnterchanged each is eventually fed from the same feedinglocation as its predecessor, splicing mechanism comprising two movableyarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, leverswith which said two guides are respectively connected, said levers beingmounted on a common pivot and coupled by a pin and slot connection sothat when the lever connected with the splicing yarn guide is moved intothe operative position it automatically moves the guide for the mainyarn into the feeding position, but when the said lever is released itmoves in relatirn to the companion lever, as permitted by the slot,thereby leaving the lever of the guide for the main yarn in theoperative position, and

means for automatically operating the various yarn guidesinterchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a sectionof the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substitutedfor the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needlesduring at least one course ot knitting, periodically, and in theintervals the main'yarn only is supplied to the said section of theneedles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to thesaid remainder of the needles.

8. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary needlecylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicingmechanism including two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and asplicing yarn respectively, means for operating said mechanism, stripingmechanism including a plurality of movable yarn guides for respectivelydierent striping yarns, levers for operating said striping yarn guides,a timing mechanism having contrasting elements thereon, a selectormember movable into diierent positions for action selectively upon theoperating levers at'the dictates of the said contrasting elements, andcam means rotatable in timed relation with the motion of the cylinderfor effecting actuation of the selector member, the combined means foroperating the various yarn guides interchangeably functioningautomatically and in such a manner that a striping yarn is supplied to asection of the needles While the main yarn and the splicing yarn aresubstituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of theneedles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in theintervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of theneedles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to thesaid remainder of the needles.

9. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary needlecylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicingmechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and asplicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides arerespectively connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot andcoupled by a pin and slot connection so that when the lever connectedwith the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position itautomatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feedingposition, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation tothe companion lever.

as permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for themain yarn in the operative` position, striping mechanism including apluralityof movable yarn guides for respectively different stripingyarns, levers for operating said striping yarn guides, a timingmechanism having contrasting elements thereon, a selector member movableinto diilerent positions for action selectively upon theoperating leversat the dictates of the said y contrasting elements, cam means rotatable'in timedl relation with the motion of the cylinder for effectingactuation of the selector member, and a part which is associated withthe rotary cam means` and adapted to move the aforesaid lever connectedwith the splicing yarn guide into the operative position at requiredtimes, the'means for operating the various yarn guides interchangeablybeing such that a striping yarn isL supplied to a section f the needleswhile the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for thestriping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during atleast one course of knitting, periodically, and -in the intervals themain yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and boththe main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainderof the needles.

10. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles,stripping mechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for astriping yarnysplicing mechanism including other movduring at least onecourse of knitting, periodically,

and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said sectionof the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are suppliedto the said remainder of the needles, yarn cutting and trapping means inassociation with the splicing mechanism, said last mentioned means beingoperable at each course of knitting so 'as to cut and hold the splicingyarn upon withdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course, anda device adapted, whenever a yarn change is effected, to engage andintroduce to the needles the portion of the ingoing yarn extendingbetween the feeding end of its guide and the cutting and trapping meansand thereupon to cut the said yarn.

1l. A combination according to claim 10,

wherein the said device is so arranged and operated that the ingoingyarn is cut as near as is practicable to the appropriate side of thefirst needle to receive it, for the purpose specied.

12. In a circular knitting machine, in combination; a rotary needlecylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicingmechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and asplicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides arerespectivelyV connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot andcoupled by a pin and slot lconnection so that-when the lever connectedwith the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position itautomatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feedingposition, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation tothe companion lever, as permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the leverof the guide for `the main yarn in the operative position, stripingmechanism including a plurality of movable yarn guides for respectivelydiil'erent striping yarns, levers for operating said striping yarnguides, a timing mechanism having contrasting elements thereon,

a selector member movable into different positions for actionselectively upon the operating levers at the dictates of the saidcontrasting elements, cam means rotatable in timed' relation with themotion of the cylinder for eecting actuation of the selector member, andcam means for controlling the aforesaid lever connected with thesplicing yarn guide, which lever is adapted to be operated by theselector member for the striping yarn lguides, the means for operatingthe various yarn guides interchangeably being such that a striping yarnis supplied to a section of the needles While the main yarn and thesplicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarnand supplied to theremainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting,periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to thesaid section of the needles and both fthe main yarn and the splicingyarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

13. ln a knitting machine, in combination, ay series of needles, atleast one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, splicing mechanismcomprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarnrespectively, levers with which said two guides are respectivelyconnected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot and coupled by apin and slot connection so that when the lever connected with thesplicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position itautomatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feedingposition, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation tothe companion lever, as

- permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for themain yarn in the operative position, and means for automaticallyoperating the various yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that astriping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the mainyarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn andsupplied to the remainderof the needles during at least one course ofknitting, periodically, and

in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section ofthe needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied tothe said remainder of the needles,

14. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle cylinder, asuperimposed rib needle cylinder, double-ended needles for operation insaid cylinders, sliders in said cylinders for operating the needles andtransferring same from one cylinder to the other according torequirements,

'at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarnguides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, and means forautomatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwisethat a striping yarn is supplied to aY section of the needles while themain l yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarnand supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one courseof knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only issupplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn andthe splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. ALBERT HENRY WIDDOWSON.

